Mostly about my backyard chickens. (Boring, I know), but there are a lot of us out here. Mine are only kept as pampered pets. I could eat a neighbor's chicken, but not MINE. There may be a comment on current events only if I get riled up enough. And there will always be a cartoon or a joke to cheer us. I promise to try my very best to respond to comments. Now I have to figure out how this blogger thingy works....

Friday, May 23, 2014

New Meteor Shower Tonight!!!!!

From: Space.com:

New Meteor Shower Friday Night: How to See It

By Joe Rao, Space.com Skywatching Columnist | May 22, 2014 05:25pm ET

Editor's Update (May 23): The live webcasts on Space.com for the new meteor shower from Comet 209P/LINEAR can be found here: Watch Live: Camelopardalid Meteor Shower Webcasts
Meteor observation doesn't have to be rocket science: All you have to
do is lie back in a comfortable place and look up at the sky with the
naked eye. Every so often, a meteor will flit across the stars. You
simply make a note on a clipboard or speak into a tape recorder.
On Friday night and early Saturday morning (May 23-24), Earth will plow through debris shed over the years by Comet 209P/LINEAR.
The result likely will be a new meteor shower, and possibly a
spectacular meteor storm of 1,000 or so shooting stars per hour, experts
say.

How to prepare
No two observers prepare for a meteor vigil the same way. It will help
if you can take a late-afternoon nap and a shower, and wear all fresh
clothing. The ground can get cold, so heavy blankets, sleeping bags,
cushions and even pillows are all essential. Sleeping bags provide some
mosquito protection, but don't forget the insect repellent!
A long, reclining lawn chair makes a good observation platform because
it's comfortable, portable and, in most cases, relatively inexpensive.
It also allows you to move your head toward any section of the sky. A
Thermos of hot coffee, tea or juice is a welcome comfort. Avoid alcohol;
it impairs night vision.

A new meteor shower, the Camelopardalids, will make
their first night sky appearance on May 23 and 24, 2014. Created by the
Comet 209P/LINEAR, the meteors will appear to radiate out from the
constellation Camelopardalis (Camel Leopard, or Giraffe).Credit: Science@NASA

The darker, the better
Find a safe observing site that provides a wide-open view of the sky.
Once you arrive, allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become fully adapted
to the dark. You can use a flashlight, but only after you make some key
modifications: Cover the lens with a sheet of dark-red cellophane, since
dim red light affects your eyes far less than lamplight.
Complete darkness is best for observing meteors.
With light pollution so widespread, it's getting harder to find a truly
dark sky. Use the bowl of the Little Dipper to help determine how dark
the sky in your area is. The brightest star in the Little Dipper is
Kochab, a second-magnitude star. The next brightest is Pherkad,
at third magnitude. The next brightest star is fourth-magnitude, and
the next brightest is fifth-magnitude. So, if you can see all four stars
in the bowl, you're in a pretty dark observing site. Keep in mind that
for an increasing number of locations, only Kochab and Pherkad are
visible, meaning you're likely to miss many of the fainter streaks.
It really doesn't make much of a difference in which direction you
face. You just don't want trees, buildings or sky glow blocking your
field of view. Gazing directly overhead (at the zenith) might be best.
Your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees;
some groups recommend looking about 60 degrees up in the direction of
the radiant; the radiant for the Comet 209P/LINEAR meteors is in the dim
constellation of Camelopardalis, which will be located about one-third up in the sky from the north-northwest horizon.
Use a portable radio to stay updated on the weather. Before changing to
what might be a better site, however, note whether the cloudiness is
spotty. Sometimes, there are lengthy intervals when few meteors can be
seen. Of course, hourly counts mean little if your sky is not entirely
clear. [How to Pronounce the Camelopardalids (Video)]

Reports are that the shower wasn't much. There is some interesting coverage herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elUc8BalaK0with pics and audio of radio meteor scatter audio. About a minute then he does his daily earthquake and solar reports. TerryFla.

About Me

Mostly about my backyard chickens (Boring, I know), but there are a lot of us out here. Mine are only kept as pampered pets. I could eat a neighbor's chicken, but not MINE. There may be a comment on current events only if I get riled up enough. And there will always be a cartoon or a joke to cheer us. I promise to try my very best to respond to comments. Now I have to figure out how this blogger thingy works....